Continuous mining apparatus of the pivoted boom type



2,798,712 i CONTINUOUS MINING APPARATUS QF THE PIUOTED BooM TYPE Filed March 30.' 1948 c. r-'. BALL 11 Sheng-sheet 1 July 9, 1957 Il Amwwd @ou S bzw! M TYPE C. F. BALL CONTINUOUS MINING APPARATUS oN INI; PIvoIED B oo Filed March so. 194e 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 M b3 QQ nl. l PIVJHT".

'July 9, 1957 c.' F. BALI. 2,798,712

4 CoNTINucms MINING APPARATUS oF THE PIvoTED BooM TYPE July9,1957 QEBALL- 2,798,112

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Juy 9, 1957 July 9, l957v c. F. BALL 2,798,712* CONTINUOUS MINING APPARATUS 'oF THE; PIvoTED BOOM TYPE Filed March so. 1948 ll'snee'ts-sheet e July 9) 1957 c. F. BALL CONTINUOUS MINING APPARATUS OF THE PINOTED BOOM TYPE: 4

Filed March 30, 1948 nlllml' '6222)k 29.' zmeff'fzz; L l V vr 0.2202726 ll Sheets-Sheet '7 July 9, 1957 Filed March 30, 1948 C. F. BALL CONTINUOUS MINING APPARATUS OF THE PIVOTED BOOM TYPE 11 sheets-sheet 8 ,July 9, 1957V c. F. BALL V2,793,712

coNTINUoUs MINING APPARATUS 0F THE PIVOTED BQOM TYPE Y Filed Marh :50. 1948 11 sheets-sheet 9 llllhqml l (/Zorzzeg.

July 9, 1957 c; F. BALL 2,798,112"

CONTINUOUS MINING APPARATUS oP THE: PIVOTED Boom TYPE Filed March so. 194e 11 shets-sheet 1o [22062220213 qfles ai.

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yZZ 60 July 9, 1957 c. F. BALL' CONTINUOUS MINING APPARATUS. OF THEPIVOTED BOOM TYPE l Y 11 shuts-sheet 11 Filed March 30, 1948 A,22g M772 f Y United States Patent O CONTINUOUS MINING' APPARATUS F THE PIVOTED BOGM Tilt/'PE Charles F. Ball, Franklin, Pa., assigner to JoyManufarturing Company, Pittsburgh, Paga corporation oi* Penn- Sylvania Application'Marchtl, 1948Serial No., 17,993

8 Claims. (Cl. 262-29) This invention relates to mining apparatus and more particularly to an improved apparatus for mining coal or similar materials from a solid face in underground mines without the use of wexplosives and forloading the coal removed from the face as mining progresses.

The invention, from a broad aspect,l maycomprise a mining and loading apparatus of a low height construction especiallyfadapted for use in underground mines having low headroom, and including vein-disintegrating apparatus for attacking in succession a series of segments of the coal face,` for breaking up oversize chunks of dislodged'coal, and for conveying the disintegratedcoal away from the coal `face to a suitable point ofI disposal. The invention, from a more speciiic aspect, may comprise a mobile base adapted to travel over the'oor ofa mine and carrying Va swiveled frame mountedfto swing horizontally with respect to the base and on` whichian elongated boom. frame structure is `pivotally mounted-to swing in Vertical planes with respect thereto and to` swing horizontally therewith relative to the base. The boom frame is extensible to -vary its length` and fhas power :devices for extending and retracting the same and supports, at its outer extremity, the coa1, face, vein, or seamf attacking and disintegrating mechanism. The disintegrating mechanism is Vpreferahlysumped into `the coal` face near,` the floor llevel by extending the boomframe by its power devices, and when-the outerportion of theveindisintegrating mechanism has been sumped withimthecoal face, the boom trame maybe swung upwardly'by `power devicesat arelatively high .speed and with -a--powerful upward thrustito cause the disintegratingl instruments to elect disintegration of a vertical segment of the `coal face between the top of theopeningproduced byrsumpingand the roof. The disintegrated coal is moved along 4the topof the disintegrating mechanism to discharge into a breaker and hopper mechanism wherein any unwieldy chunks of coal are ,reduced to handleable size and conductedto an auxiliary conveyor on the boom frame which,.in turn, discharges onto a main elevating conveyor. When the vein-disintegrating mechanism reaches the end of `its upg ward swinging stroke, the boom frame may beretracted by its power devicesto withdraw the outer portionof this disintegrating mechanism from the coal. Desirably,.with the disintegrating mechanism constructedas herein later explained, no coal will need to be detached during the withdrawal. The swiveled frame may be then Vturned, on its swivel axis relative to the base to locate theveindisintegrating mechanism in a new positionto attackfan adjacent segment of the coal face, and successive segments of the coal face may be successively disintegrated until the coal for the entire widthof the face is dislodged.` The disintegrated coal is conveyed rearwardly ofthe apparatus by a main elevating conveyor which discharges .onto :a swiveled and tiltable rear discharge conveyor whichpin turn, conveys the coal to a suitable point of disposal. AThe vein-,disintegrating mechanism, when in lowered sumping position near the oor level, is,` in a preferred embodiment of the invention, given a non-rectilinear sumping movement so thatthe bottom of the disintegrating mechanism substantially follows `the floor line, andthe upward swinging movement is relatively rapid and powerful so that the coal 4is `rapidly dislodged by the disintegrating instruments with .a tearing action toward the tree lface of the coal. Any loose coal which falls to the floor `from the vein-disintegrating mechanism is picked up by the front gathering devices and moved onto the elevatingconveyor as the apparatus is advanced toward thetace as mining progresses.

An object of the present invention is to provide an. improved mining and loading apparatus of an extremely low height construction especially designed for use in underground mines having low headroom. Another object is to provide an improved mining and loading machine whereby a series of vertical segments of lthe coal face are dislodged from the solid to remove the coal completely across the face without the use of explosives, `and the dislodged coal is conveyed from theface to a suitable point of disposal. A further object is to providean improved mining and loading apparatus which is -relativelycompact and vrugged in design andl which is extremely flexible in operationand sensitive to control. A further object is -to provide an--improved mining and loading apparatus comprising a mobile base having a swiveledirame mounted thereonA to `swing horizontally withirespect thereto and carrying lan extensible boom frame structure of whichfthe extensible portion, in turn, carriescoalfdetaching, facedisintegrating mechanism whereby, when the boom'frame isextended and retracted' the disintegrating mechanism may be sumped into or withdrawn from the coal, and having embodied therein improved meansy for'swinging the boom frame structure to move` thedisintegrating mechanism to elect a vertical, swinging movement from its sumped position to its raised positiontnear the roof level.l Yet another object is to provide .an improved mining and loading apparatus having.improved-vein-attacking and ,disintegrating mechanism for disintegrating `the `:coal face in vertical segments and for removingthetdislodged coal froml the coal face in an improved manner. A lfurther object is to provide an `improved mountingmeans for the disintegrating mechanism whereby the latter, upon sumping movement thereof near therfloor level, substantially follows the line of itheiiloor, resulting in a-srnooth bottom. Still another object is to provide improved means for. effecting sumping and withdrawing movements of .the coal seam attacking and disintegrating mechanism, for effecting verticalswinging movements of such mechanism, and for adjusting such mechanism into diierent lateral vein-attacking and dislodging positions. Yet another objecty is to provide an improved extensible boom 4iframe structure for supporting the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism, and having improved means for extending and retracting the boom trame to effect sumping and withdrawal movements of they vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanismproper. A further object is to provide an improved breaker and hopper mechanism. as.- socia'ted with the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism for receiving the dislodged coal, for reducing the oversized chunks of dislodged coal,` and for conducting the dislodged coal to the conveying means .of theapparatus. A still further object is to provide an improvedisupportingfand guiding ,structure for the coal-,detaching and disintegrating mechanism. Stillanother object is to `provide animproved chute mechanism for receivingthe dislodged `coal discharged from the coal detaching and disf integrating mechanism, and embodying achute section so heldas to yield in the event of engagementwith the mine roof. These and other objects` `and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

ln these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preparred illustrative form of the improved mining and loading apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. l, with the disintegrating mechanism shown slightly raised.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional View taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View taken substantially on line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 7--7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 1tl1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the forward portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, with the cutting and disintegrating mechanism in extended sumped position, but slightly raised from the bottom.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of Fig. 10 and illustrating details of the pivotal connection between portions of the frame of the elevating conveyor.

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 13-13 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken substantially on line 14-14 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 15-15 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 16-16 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail view in cross section taken substantially on line 17-17 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 18-18 of Fig. 14.

Fig; 19 is a horizontal sectional View through the control valve mechanism.

Fig. 20 is a detail vertical sectional View taken on line 20-20 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 20, showing the control valve in a different position.

Fig. 22 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the hydraulic lluid system.

Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the mining and loading apparatus in operating position in a mine.

Fig. 24 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the mining and loading apparatus shown in Fig. 23, with the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism shown in full and `also in dotted lines, in extended sumped position.

The improved mining and loading apparatus, as shown in the drawings, constitutes an improvement over that of a copending application to Harold F. Silver, Serial No. 11,688, tiled February 27, 1948, which is owned by applicants assignee, and generally comprises a mobile base, herein a tractor or crawler base 1, adapted to travel over the floor of a mine, and carrying a vertical swivel 2 on which a supporting frame 3 is mounted to swing horizontally with respect to the base, and which, in turn, has an extensible boom frame structure 4 mounted thereon to swing in horizontal planes with the supporting frame with respect to the base and to swing in vertical planes relative to the supporting frame. The extensible boom frame carries, at its outer end, vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism, generally designated 5, for detaching and disintegrating the coal in vertical segments from the solid. While at times I may refer to this veinattacking mechanism as a coal, face, or seam-attacking mechanism, it is to be understood that except as may be required by the prior art or specifically set forth in the claims this apparatus is not limited to use with coal. Extending rearwardly through the base is a main elevating conveyor 6 having adjustable front gathering device generally designated 7 and discharging onto a rear discharge or tail conveyor 8 (Figs. 23 and 24) mounted to swing horizontally and to tilt vertically on the rearward portion of the base. An auxiliary conveyor, generally designated 9, is mounted on the boom frame to convey the disintegrated coal discharged from the cutting and disintegrating mechanism to the main elevating conveyor irrespective of the adjusted position of the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 5 with respect thereto. A motor 10, carried by the swiveled frame 3, serves to drive the vein, face, or coal-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 5; a motor 11 drives the crawler treads 12; and a motor 13 drives the auxiliary conveyor 9. A motor 14 drives a pumping means 15 for delivering fluid under pressure to the various hydraulically operated devices of the apparatus. A motor 16 serves to swing the supporting frame 3 on its swivel horizontally with respect to the base, and a motor 17 drives the rear discharge conveyor 8. The crawler treads 12 of the tractor base serve to propel the apparatus about the mine and to steer the apparatus, and the supporting frame and boom frame are swingable horizontally relative to the base to locate the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism in different laterally disposed, radially extending positions with respect to the base. When the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 5 is lowered into sumping position near the floor level, the boom frame may be extended by power devices to sump the outer portion of the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism into the coal near the floor level. Thereafter the boom frame may be swung upwardly by power devices to move the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism in vertical planes in an arcuate path to tear away or dislodge the coal in its path, and, iinally, the boom frame may be retracted by its power devices to withdraw the outer portion of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism from the coal. During vertical swinging of the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism, the coal is detached or torn away toward the free face of the coal, and the dislodged coal is moved by the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism rearwardly along the top thereof to discharge through a breaker and hopper mechanism, generally designated 1S, which reduces any oversized chunks of the dislodged coal as required tor further handling and conducts the disintegrated coal to the auxiliary conveyor 9 which, in turn, discharges the coal onto the main elevating conveyor 6. The front gathering devices 7 gather up any loose coal which has fallen to the floor and move it onto the elevating conveyor 6 as the apparatus is advanced toward the coal face. This elevating conveyor discharges the disintegrated coal onto the rear discharge conveyor 8, which, in turn, conveys the coal to a suitable point of delivery. By swinging the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism about the swivel of the supporting frame, it may be located in dilferent radial positions to attack and disintegrate the coal in a series of vertical segments of the coal face so that the entire width of the face may be disintegrated in successive steps.

The tractor or crawler base 1 comprises a frame 19 of generally inverted U shape, as shown in Fig. 8, and including a horizontal top portion 2) having downwardly extending side or leg portions 21 which are suitably rigidly secured to side frames 22 each providing a usual guideil 'ay for an endless crawler tread 12. The inverted U frame provides a bottom space 23 through which the elevating conveyorL 6" extendsA in "thermanner Eshown. VIhecrawler treads are ofA a conventional 'articulatdftread plate Ycon- "`struction,"and the side'fram'es` carry front idler sprockets 24which are a'djustabledn a conventional'mann'er with respect tothe' side framestofenable variationlin'the chain 5 I11alslots'-in`the brackets" 64 so `that when theiscrews'are 'Stension 'Rear` drive sprockets 25,". suitably journaled on lthe side' frames, engage and drive the crawler treads. "`1The treaddriving motor".11, which is herein preferably `an electric motor, is carried by-.an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 26 lof the baseframe 19 and is "10 arranged transversely "of the base and hasits power shaft `2'7..horizontally tdispos'ed. AFixed. tot-he motor shaftis a spur pinion 28 (Fig` 16) meshingwithspurplanet Agears ..29- journaled. on `stubishafts? 30.` integral :with aplanet .carrier 31, thelatterherein having ashaft 32 coaxial with mthemotor `shaft .and suitably journaledinibearings fsup i portedwithin a gear4 housing 33 .carried `bythebase. frame portion 26. 1-The planet gearsmeshvwith.y a large-internal gear-34 keyedtorthe housing. ,As thenplaneth-gears are., 1 l ,p

herein formed integral with the forward portion fof-.the

dri-ven;` they roll aroundthenternal .gear` as a-trackway` to `,provide a substantial speed.reduction-betweenthe pinion --28and the carrier shaft. `Keyedltothe?carrierfishaft32 ."is a spurigearfmeshing `withfa-ispur,gearitftin turn z keyedi to a shaft371parallel-withi`the icarrierisha-ft 32- 'and likewise journaled in .the gear rhousing. Keyed toY `the -Vshaft 37 is a double chain sprocket'BS engaging an 'endless drive chain 391 which engagesl and`r `drives `a double 'chain asprocket 40 (Fig 15) havingits'hub 41 fkeyeddo al` horizon- "loosened, lftheilbralckets' 'may 'be adjusted endwise relative tothe'base "frame-portion 26 l`tovary "the 'tenson 'of` the L'drive-chains Z7. l; For adjusting -"these brackets,` certain fof 'i the platesif have depending lugs.' 67.` carrying yadjusting screws68 which'engage"the adjacent ends of thebra'ckets 64. Thus,"whethescrewsiSare loosened, the screws fes'fmjay' bez adjusted to vary the"p'o'sitionnf the brackets 64 withrespect tothe plates 66,'Laudthe brackets,when

adjusted, 'maylbe firmly,V clamped in position .by Aagain 5 `tightening the screws" 65.

WThe swiv'eled supporting frame 3, mounted on Ithe base frame`19,has, at'its forward side, al bearing engaging portion" (Eig.'"`10) engagingspaced sleeve bearings" 71 supported by an upright `cylindrical bearing support` 72,

base. frame. .'Arranged eccentrically-with respect tolthe swivel axis at-lthe rearward side 'of'the latteris .an` arcuate ,guid 73 dormedintegral with the base frame 219. and .re-

ceived in aguideway 74 provided bya curvedguide mem- 5 be 75-securedtothe bottom ofthe swiveled frame. The

top f the base frame. is arcuately recessed at `76 totreceive and` to. permitfswinging movement ofthe curved@ guide 'member .7S in the manner. shown. The .parts 73, 75 co- .Ptalrtransversely `extending` shaft`42irherein arranged par-30 foperate to Provide a 'guidefof' the Swiveledifame supple' :.allelwithfthe shaft37. As `also shown'iniFig." 15, secured 'irztol'thezend portion ot thel` shaftff42oppositefrom thatf-to `f" which [the ichain jspro'cketflltly isf securedliis" y.the i hub 'of a imember 43. irhehubs ofthenchainusprocket Amand the memberi 43 are' journaledon bearings-Mrcarriedl-withing5 it'he latterin turntsecured to'transverseishaftsw (see also "Fig: l0) suitablyfjournaledwithin the crawler lsidlframes "22 andtowhichthe tread drivesprockets 25'- aree-secured. The sprocketsidG-are connec'tiblel tothe drivefshaft 42 a' hub member 51 keyed tothe end-portion' of "the 'shaft i2 and having vsplined thereto clutch disksw'52 Ainterleaved with clutch disks`53' splined toa clutch-casing` 54fhaving its `hhb keyedtothe hub ofthe chain "sprocket" 46. "The'inten leaved yclutch disksI 52, 53 are heldin' frictionalengage` 5()v ment by` pressure supplied` by coilspringsi "55 set at a'predetermined load. Secured-.to each endofthe sha'fti42 is a pistonV 56 contained in a` cylinder bore"57 formed in a reciprocable member' 53 towhich an operatingnrember `.59 for the clutchdisks is secured. "The springs"`55,` 55 act 55 on'these members'59` at one end and against an adjustable stop'59 carried by the hub member` 51 at their other ends. t The member 58 carries a packing P sealnglyengaging the exterior` of thetpiston56 to prevent oilleaka-ge. `Fluid may be supplied to the.cylinder.borepinla'mannento be"60V Vlater` explained, through a swivelconnectionlLandwa u conduit. 61 communicatingwiththe cylinder i bore. When .tluidV under pressure islsupplied tothe cylinder-bore,the member 53 is.moved outwardly relative -to the piston-56 "tof'eifect, compression ofthe clutch yloadings springs 55, 65

- mentingthe swivel bearingmounting so -that the` swivel frame` is 'adequately guided` in all t positions i of :horizontal '..angular adjustment. Thehorizontal-frame `portionsZt) `arid. the uprightbearing supportf72 aremadehollowp-as Lshowu in Fig. 3-,. and certain ofthe power conductor cables `or wires-and `certain of theffluid conduitsV extendfflongitudin'allyfthrough the hollow `frame and upwardly through .the bearing support atthe center ofthe swivel,y for compactness, thereby eliminating the necessity-of drapingthe cables, wiresor conduitsabout-the apparatus.

:The-extensible boom frame 4 and face-disintegrating mechanism 5= are carried bythe swveled frame 3 -to swing .horizontally therewith relative toathe base framein a manner to be later explained. The meansfor horizontally swingingthe swiveled frame 3 oniits swivel-mountingincludes the hydraulic motor 16 (see` Fig..-4) -whichis reversibleand which is supportedbya horizontal frame structure mounted onfthebase frame 19. Thismotor has secured `to its power shaft a chain sprocket 81 which isiconnected by `an endless drive chain t 32` to a-fchain .sprocket 83, the latter hereinkeyed to a transverse-shaft `554 journaled at itsend-portions within gear housings; 85 secured -to `the frame `structure 80. Securedoto -`theyend portions -of the shaft 84 and arranged withinthe= gear s housings 'are worms-86 meshing `-with worm-wheelss87 securedv` to verticali shafts 88,- the 'Iatter-likeWSe-being .suitablysajournaled..within 'the gear' housings. Keyed to the lower ends ofthe shafts 88 are spur gears 89 which `meshwith spurgears'90 `journal'ed on `stubshafts 91Hsecured withinthe frame structure 80. The gears 90are-so arranged and constructed thatwtheir-rotation is-fsynchronized, .with the teeth thereof-movable smoothly intoiand out of meshing engagement `with -theteeth Vof van arcuate i gear segmentorirack-92 :secured to the swiveled frame?, rearwardly ofV the-supplementalguides 73; 75,.- asr clearly shown in Figs.V l0\and 14. When the'swivel frame l'ris swunghorizontally in one directioniorttheother, the teeth of the` gear -segment 92 move-out of-mesh with one of the gears 90andnwhen `the swivel frame `is swung backtoward alignment withf'the base, the teeth of the-gear-lseg- 70` ment return into mesh with the. gear. Thecontrol means for the :hydraulic motor-16 will later be described. Thus, by the provision of the spaced swinging gears`90, 490` and jgear segment`92 arranged and constructed as disclosed, a' comparatively wi-de range` of' horizontal swing of 'the supportmembers"`45. `'Secured to the tublar'inember 75"'swivel frame?, 'with 'respect tothe base is' possible,

' iloor level.

The extensible boom frame structure 4 comprises a rearward boom part or swinging frame 103 having laterally space-d side portions 104 pivotally mounted on laterally spaced side frame portions 105 formed integral with the swivel frame 3. The rear boom part 103 have curved lateral guides 107 along the sides of its upper portion with which longitudinally spaced guides 108, 108, secured to the sides of the outer boom part or outer sliding frame 109, are engaged. Thus, the outer boom part or sliding frame may slide back and forth along the guides 107 relative to the rear boom part to effect shortening and elongation of the boom frame. The means for extending and retracting the boom comprises double acting hydraulic feed cylinders 110, pivoted at 111 to swing in vertical planes to the opposite sides of the rear boom frame part 103 and containing reciprocable pistons having forwardly projecting piston rods 112 which are pivotally connected at 113 at their forward ends to depending lugs integral with the front guide brackets 108. The seam, vein, face, or coal-attacking and disintegrating mechanism is carried by the outer boom frame part 109 in a manner to be later explained. The upper guides 107 are so arranged and constructed that a substantially rectilinear motion is imparted to the outer tip end of the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism during sumping thereof near the For swinging the extensible boom frame in a vertical direction about its pivotal mounting on the forward portion of the swivel frame 3, a pair of single acting hydraulic swing or lift cylinders 115, 115 are swiveled at 116 on brackets at the top of the swivel frame to swing in vertical planes, and these cylinders contain reciprocable pistons 117 having piston rods 118 projecting forwardly through the front packed heads ofthe cylinders.

` The forward ends of the piston rods are pivotally connected at 119 to lugs or arms 120, herein secured, as by welding, to a transverse tubular member or sleeve 121, herein in turn secured at its ends, as by welding, to the tops of the side portions 104 of the rear boom frame part 103 rearwardly of the chute mechanism 18, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, by supplying Huid to the cylinders 110 and 115, the boom frame may be extended and retracted as desired and may be swung in vertical planes about its pivot relative to the swivel frame 3. By trapping the liquid within these cylinders, the parts may be locked in adjusted position. The control valve means for these cylinders will later be described.

The vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 5, which has been variously referred to as the coal, face, vein, and seam-attacking and/ or disintegrating mechanism, depending upon the aspect of its use, or for other reasons, and which may logically be designated by any or all of such terms, comprises a plurality, herein preferably four in number, of chain guideways 124, provided on the exterior of a guide frame 125 (Fig. 3) of fabricated boxlike construction and welded to the sides of the outer boom part 109. Endless chains 126, herein shown for purposes of illustration as of the seven-bit-position type, though they may, of course, assume other forms, are guided for circulation in these guideways, and each comprises a series of chain blocks 127 pivotally connected together by usual strap links 123. Each chain block has a lateral lug 129 formed with a usual socket for receiving the shank of a Vein-attacking instrument, herein shown in the form of a standard cutter bit 130. The bit Shanks are held in the lug sockets by usual set screws 131. The block Ilugs are relatively inclined laterally to locate the bits in relatively inclined positions to provide for proper lacing of the bits in a well known manner. With a sevenposition chain, the bits on each chain will move in seven orbits each laterally olset from the next, and the four chains will result in twenty-eight orbits. The guideways of the guide frame are provided by upper parallel plates 132 extending longitudinally along the rearward portion of the guide frame 125, and downwardly inclined front guide plates 133, arranged in common vertical planes with the plates 132, and the inclined front plates cooperate with a curved end guide 134 at the outer tip end of the guide frame. The guideways at the bottom of the guide frame are provided by longitudinal guide plates 135 similar to the upper plates 132. Cooperating with the top and bottom guide plates are side guide strips 136 which are welded to the vertical side plates 137. The guide plates, the side guide strips and the curved end guide cooperate to guide the four cutter chains in orbital paths about the guide frame. The tops of the side plates are ilared outwardly and cooperate to provi-de a trough whereby the coal dislodged from the coal `face may be conducted to the discharge chute without substantial spillage, as later explained. The upper and lower guide plates 132 and 135 are detachably held in position on the guide frame by bolts 133 which pass through tubular reinforcing elements or struts 139 secured, as by welding, to the top and bottom cross plates 140 of the guide frame. The front upper guide plates 133 are detachably secured to the gui-de frame as by screws 141. The curved end guide 134 is secured to an adjustable frame section 142 guided at 143 for longitudinal adjustment by adjusting screws 144 accessible through the sides of the guide frame. Bolts 145, carried by the adjustable frame section, extend through longitudinal slots 146 in the guide frame 125, and the bolts may be tightened to lock the adjustable frame section in adjusted position. The bolts are likewise accessible through the side of the guide frame. Thus, by adjusting the frame section 142, the tension of the chains 126 may be varied as desired. The chain blocks 127 have usual lateral gibs near their bases for engagement with the guide plates and side strips for retaining the chains in their gui'deways; and the curved end guide 134 has only a smooth convex outer guiding surface about which the chains pass as they travel around the outer tip end of the guide frame. Evidently, if desired, separate chain carrying bars of a conventional design, arranged vertically edge- Wise, may be secured together to provide the guideways for the chains. While four chains are disclosed, it will be evident that a smaller or larger number of chains may be employed if desired. The relations of the bit blocks on the several chains will be later noted in sorne detail.

It has been noted that in the sumping position of the disintegrating apparatus the front guide plates 133 are inclined downwardly more than the plates 132. These are intended to be disposed at such an angle to the plates 132 that when the upwardly swingable disintegrating apparatus has attained to a particular elevationthe normally intended roof height, the portion of the chain orbit just above the plates 1.33 will be parallel to the mine bottom, and so all the coal that would be removed during withdrawal of the disintegrating mechanism, if the latter were to be horizontally rectilinearly withdrawn, will already be removed, and the fact that the then downward curvature of the guides 107 will cause the bits to move away from the roof during withdrawal will be immaterial.

The vein-attacking and distintegrating mechanism 5 tears and dislodges the coal from the solid, and as disintegration of the coal progresses, the loose coal is moved rearwardly by the top runs of the chains along the top of the disintegrating mechanism, and is discharged into the breaker and chute mechanism 18 which includes a chute 150 extending around the sides of the rearward portion of the trough provided by the ared side plates 137 and through which the coal is conducted to discharge onto the auxiliary conveyor 9. This chute includes a casing 151 (Figs. 3, 6 and 7) secured to the outer boom part 109 and having projecting forwardly from its rear wall a plurality of parallel breaker plates or bars 152 which project forwardly into a position wherein they cooperate with the bits 130 in the breaking up of large lumps or chunks of coal to a size wherein the coal may readily flow through the bottom chute discharge 153 to the auxiliary conveyor. The chute frame has a transverse bottom portion 154 of angular cross section which its length so that any loose coal or dirt which is carried forwardly through the lower portion of the conveyor framesl by the return, bottom run of the conveyor may drop down by gravity to prevent jamming and clogging.

The open bottom frame provides narrow side guides at 276 for the bottom runs of the conveyor side chains 271, as shown in Fig. 13. The endless conveyor, at its forward end, is associated with the front gathering devices 7 and is guided by chain sprockets 277 and passes around a transverse guide member 278 secured to the conveyor frame and having a convex outer guiding surface 279, and extending rearwardly from the upper side of the convex guiding surface is an inclined guide plate 280 for directing the upper runs of the conveyor chains toward the upper plate 273. The elevating conveyor is driven by the motor 11 which also drives the crawler treads 12, and, as shown in Fig. 16, meshing with and driven by the spur gear 36 is a spur gear 283 keyed to a transverse shaft 284, herein arranged parallel with the shaft 37 and likewise suitably journaled Within the gear housing 33. The shaft 284 has an extension 285 projecting outwardly from the side of the gear housing, and keyed to this shaft extension is a member 286 which has keyed thereto clutch. disks 287 which are interleaved with clutch disks 288 keyed to a clutch casing 289 having its hub journaled on a bearing supported by the shaft 284. Secured to the casing hub is a chain sprocket 290 which is connected by an endless drive chain 291 which is operatively connected to the elevating conveyor.

The operating means for pressing the clutch disks 287, 288 together comprises a reciprocable shifter member 295 mounted on the shaft extension 285 and operated by a shipper yoke 296 engaging an annular flange 297 on the shifter member and operated by a suitable operating lever 298 (see Figs. 1 and l5). The member 295 is connected by links 299 to pivoted elements 300 pivotally mounted at 301 on a collar 302 threadedly secured to the member 286. Projections 303 on the pivoted members 300 engage an operating ring 304 slidably guided on the member 286. Arranged between the ring 304 and a clutch loading ring 305 are vcoil springs 306. When the shifter member 295 is slid inwardly along the shaft extension, the elements 300 are swung about their pivots to slide the rings 304 and 305 inwardly along the member 286 and to cause the pressure of the springs 306 to cause the operating ring 305 to effect application of the clutch. When the shifter member 295 is slid outwardly along the shaft extension, the ring 305 is no longer forced against the disks and so the clutch s released.

The front gathering devices 7, associated with the elevating conveyor 6, may assume various forms but herein comprises horizontal side frame portions 308 integral with a cross connecting bar 308 carried at the forward end of the pivoted front conveyor frame 269. The cross connecting bar passes through the orbit of the endless conveyor rearwardly of the transverse guide member 278, as shown in Fig. l0, and is secured to the plates 273 and 280. These side frame portions project laterally from the sides of the front conveyor frame and have curved feet 309 which are slidably engageable with the mine oor. The forward portion of the elevating conveyor which is guided by the idler sprockets 277 drives oppositely extending horizontal shafts 310 of screw gathering conveyors or feeding scrolls 311. These conveyor shafts are arranged in axial alignment at the opposite sides of the front receiving end of the elevating conveyor. The side frame portions 308 extend beneath the scrolls 311, as shown in Fig. 2, and have brackets 312 secured to their outer sides and in which the outer ends of the scroll drive shafts 310 are journaled. The feeding scrolls or gathering conveyors 311, when in lowered position, have their bottoms running close to the tloor level just above the arcuate guide feet 309 ofthe side frame portions so that, as the'apparatus is advanced, any loose coal which has fallen to the floor from the attacking and disintegrating mechanism 5 may be gathered by the scrolls and moved inwardly toward the receiving end of the elevating conveyor. By the provision of the'open bottom beneath the return run of the endless conveyor, the ability to clean up the door is substantially improved and the possibility of clogging is substantially reduced. As above mentioned, the front conveyor frame 268 `is pivotally mounted at 269 to swing in a Vertical direction, thereby to vary the elevation of the front receiving end of the conveyor together with the feeding scrolls, with respect to the mine floor, and the means for swinging this front conveyor frame lcomprises transversely disposed single acting hydraulic cylinders 315 (one of which is shown in Fig. 17) which are pivotally connected at their outer ends at 316 to the outer sides of the base frame. Reciprocable in these cylinders are pistons 317 having piston rods 318 pivotally connected at 319 to levers 320 secured to longitudinal shafts 321. The shafts 321 are suitably rotatably mounted in brackets 322 secured to the base frame and have fixed to their forward ends levers 323 (see Fig. 18) connected by chain sections 324 attached at their lower ends by pins 325 to the sides of the pivoted front conveyor frame 268. Thus, when fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylinders 315, the pistons 317 may be operated to eifect, through the levers and chain sections, raising and lowering of the front gathering devices with respect to the mine floor. The means for supplying fluid under pressure to these cylinders will later be described.

Now referring to the hydraulic uid system of the apparatus, it will be noted that mounted on the frame at one side of the base frame near the operators seat 375, as shown in Fig. l, is a valve mechanism generally designated 376. This valve mechanism may assume various forms and herein includes a horizontal valve box 377 composed, as shown in Figs. 19, 20 and 21, of a series of sections suitably held together and including end sections 378 and 379 and intermediate valve sections 380. The pumping means 15, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 22, has its intake connected by a conduit 381 with a liquid tank 382 which preferably contains a light oil. The pump discharge is connected by a conduit 383 to an inlet passage 384 in the end section 378 of the valve box. Parallel supply passages 385 and 386 extend longitudinally through the valve box sections 380 and communicate, at one end, through ports 387 and 388 with the inlet passage 384. The opposite ends of the passages 385 and 386 are blocked oi by the end valve box section 379, as shown in Fig. 19. Extending longitudinally through the valve box sections 380 at the outer sides of and in parallelism with the supply passages 385 and 386 are exhaust passages 389 and 390 which communicate with an exhaust passage 391 in the end valve box section 379. A conduit 392 connects the exhaust passage 391 back to the tank 382. Also extending longitudinally through the valve box sections 380 is a central bypass passage 393 arranged midway between the supply passages 385 and 386 in parallelism therewith, and this bypass passage connects the inlet passage 384 with the discharge passage 391. An automatic relief valve 394, normally held closed by a spring 395 set at a predetermined load, is adapted to open upon overload to connect the inlet passage 384 with the exhaust passage 389. The valve box sections 380 have parallel transverse bores containing reciprocable slide valves 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402 and 403 respectively, of the balanced spool type normally held in central position by oppositely acting coil springs 404 and 405 in a conventional manner. These valves have valve stems 406 provided with individual operating le vers 407, as shown in Fig. 20, conveniently located near the operators station. Communicating with the valve receiving bores of the box sections 380 between the inlet passages 385 and 386 and the exhaust passages 389 and 390 are annular grooves 408 and 409, and these gby the coil springs 253. `403 and 499 to exhaust when theslide valve 399 is in efr-ostia l. it grooves, upon properA positioning of'the islidesvalves, may

be connectedeither with the' adjacentone of the supply passages A335 and 33o oriwith the .adjacent o ne ofthe, eX-

haust passages lland` 399. fWhen the valves are' in i their central position, asishown `in Fig. ,19,- liquid under pressure mayrtlow `freely `fromutheyinlet passage384 through the bypass passage-393rtofthe exhaust passage `'391 and through thedischarge` conduit 392 back tothe tank; but when any of the valves is positioned to supply iluid to one ofthe annular grooves4tl8g-409, flow through the bypass.V passage 393 iscut. off `by the` valve. The

`groove 40d which communicates with the bore which receives the .slide valve 397 is connected' by a conduit 410 and branch conduits to one end of the tilt cylinders 115 for the pvoted boom frame. "The grooves. 408

`lar grooves 49S and 439 which communicate with the `bore which receives the .slide valve 399 are connected by conduits 414tand 415 to theopposite sides ofthe reversible `hydraulic l motor lr6: for.` swinging `the swiveled f,frame 3. The conduits .414..andfl415 Aare: .connected .through branch conduits 416 .and-417stothe1opposite" ends of a casing 418 of a `shiftable shuttle valve device .419 which 4controls the flow` of liquid under pressure through a conduit 42u to the brake cylinder `258. Thus,

whenever .the motor 16 is operated, and irrespectiveof` .itsfdirection of rotation, fluid may-owthrough one `or `the other of the conduits 416 and-417 under thecontrol oofsthe shuttlelvalve devicel419 `and throughthe conduit 420 to the brake cylinder 258m `releasethe brake. The annular groove .408 which communicates with thel bore` which -receives lthe slideivalve-fidtl is connected by a conduitl422` leading to `the-swivel connectionfllof one `of the hydraulically operated-clutches'SO, while the groove -408 communicating with .the bore twhich receives the .'slidevalvettll` is connected by a conduit 423 with the swivel connectionlof the other:.hydraulicallyoperated clutchtl. The groove 408 communicatingwith:the-bore gv/hich receives the.- slide valve 4tl2. is connected ybya. con- .duit .424 and tbranch conduits with one end of the cyl- -indersfo for tiltingthe tail conveyor. S408 which communicates with the bore Whichreceives The. groove the slide valve. 4% is connected by a conduit 425 and haust passages `33E' and 390. Thus, whenever the slide `valve 399` is in its central position, the brake cylinder f 258 is connectedto exhaust so that whenever the motor 16 is stopped, thebralce which locks the swivel frame 3 against swinging movement is automatically applied In order to connect the grooves `central position, as shown in Fig. the end spools of the valveare reduced in cross` section, as at 427, and 1 the grooves 4nd and4tl9 are` widened, as shown, so that lfluid Amay freely ilow through the grooves 408 and'409 to the exhaust passages `339 and 390. Whenever the slide valve 399 is slid in one `direction ,or the `other to i connect one of the grooves 4%, 409 with one ofthe supl assa1es 335', 336 as shown in Fig. 2l, communica- P S l tionof the reduced portion 427 with the exhaust pasi sage is cutoff, as-shown at the right hand end of Fig. 2l.

i crawler treads 12 of the tractor base driven by the `motor 11 under the control ot the trictionclutches 50` lla/l which are t-normallyheldrappliedi--by` `thecoil springs 55.

j When both `clutches-501arekheld applied bythe springs,

the crawler treads may-libe driven-at the same -speed released by `hydraulic/pressure supplied l toithe iclutches crawler-tread ori the-.othermaybe 4` driven at a dierent speed from the -speed` of the-othentoteffectsteer-ing of 10 theapparatus either toward the right orftoward theleft,

l as desired. When-the apparatus is -locatedi'ats thecoal 1li-face, -`aslshown diagrammatically in--lF-ig.` 23, liquidvunder if pressure may be supplied -to-` the i hydraulic `swinging motor` 16 under .thecontrol nofi-the -slide valve 399 to 15` l infectswingir-igof` the Yswivel frame 3V horizontally on its -lswivelomounting relativetotthe base totlocate-thefveinattacking Vand disintegrating mec-:hanisni 5 i laterallyat -the Y right A hand `rib inl the ydotted. -line position indicated at .i-Afin Pig. 23 `and a'isirnilar position shown in-full llines 2()inFig.` 24. Whenathe `swinging-rnotorwl is Tunning,

`liquid under pressure ist/supplied to the brake -release `cylinder253 tooeiliectrreleaseof thel-brakefand when supply `ofA liquid -under1pressure to themotorl 16` is interruptedregardless l of its direction #of operation,=the 25-cylindern25$ islconnected totexhaustoandfthehbrake` is Aiheld appliedy by 1 the i `coil springs i -253 tog'llock -theswivel frame` 3` against swingingwmovement ``-Whenl theveinattack'ingandidisintegrating-mechanismi 5 is located at lathe-right hand ribfit may be loweredto the`.floor level by theihydraulic` cylinders 41115 yunder'the` controlfofrthe .slidelvalve "397,and When-properlypositioned, liquid may be trapped inl'theowingcylinders115'to-holdthe i .vein-attackinganddisintegratingmechanismin its lowered Aposition. wWhen the `vein-attacking and. `disintegrating `mechanism 5M assumesits `lower-edrsumping-y` position at l Ithe fright 4hand-trib,` liquid under pressure \-maybe supplied to ther"eed` cylinders` 110,under` the` control`A of 'the slide valve 3%,to ettectmeXtension-of the boom'lframe struc- :tture14-V to-Hfeed the outer portionoof-` the lVein-attacking 40 and.disintegratingmechanism beneath the coaltin adirection radially from tithe position A to the position B indicatedintdottedolines `in'lFig. 2li-'and asimilar position winhFig. 24. *During thewsumpingoperation,:the curved i-guides 107 ont the rearboom frame part-1tl3 guide the outer frame part 109 lin :suchmannerthat the outer portion offthe.` vein-attacking and` disintegratingmechanism has its forward endmove in a substantially rectilinear Apath along themineloor.` Upon completion ofthe sump- `ing operatiomliquidmay beltrapped in the feed cylinders 110 to hold theV boom frame in extended position, and

rliquid `under pressureniayrbe `supplied to the swing cylinders llaunder the control of-the slide valve 397 to etect swinging ofthe vein-attacking and `dsintegrating mechanismlupwardlyinY an larcuate path about the boom frame pivotto aA raised position `similar to the `dotted linetposition-indicated at C in Fig.` 24 to eiect disintegration andtearing away ofthe` coal toward the freefac'e, thereby to remove a vertical segment of the coal between the door and room. i During this upward swinging movement ofthe vein-attackingI and disintegrating rnechanism, the swinglcylinders apply a rapid and powerful upward thrust to the endless chains of` the vein-attackingand disintegratingmechanism to cause the disintegrating instruments to break or tear loose the `coal in relatively largechunks from the face.

Upon completion of [the upward swinging operation, liquid may be trapped in the swing cylinders 115 and liquid may be supplied tothe feed cylinderslllll vunder the control of the slide valve 398 to effect retraction of ing this withdrawal movement. During the mining operi the boom frame to withdraw the outer portion of the veination of the apparatus, the pivoted top segment 155 of the hopperlike chute is held in raised position relative to the lower chute casing by the spring devices 160. And as the endless chains 126 detach the coal from the solid; the dislodged coal is carried rearwardly along the top runs of the chains to discharge into the breaker and chute mechanism 18, and the breaker bars 152 cooperate with the chains to break up any very large chunks of coal so that the disintegrated coal may pass down through the chute and discharge onto the auxiliary conveyor 9. Due to the arrangement of the auxiliary conveyor beneath the discharge opening 153 of the chute in all positions of the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism, the loose coal passing through the chute is discharged 'onto the auxiliary conveyor irrespective of the extended lor retracted position of the boom frame. The auxiliary conveyor 9 discharges onto the main elevating conveyor 6 which conveys the 4coal rearwardly along the base to the tail conveyor 8 which, in turn, conveys the coal to a suitable point of disposal. The vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 5, by suitable operation of the swinging motor 16, may be swung laterally about the swivel axis of the swinging frame 3 to locate the same in different radial positions, so that a series of adjacent vertical segments of coal may be successively removed from the coal face, until the coal across the entire width of the face has been removed and loaded out. Any loose `coal which falls to the floor instead lof being carried back by the chains will be cleaned up by the front gathering devices 7 and moved onto the elevating conveyor as the apparatus advances toward the face as the face is advanced.

As a result of this invention, an improved mining and loading apparatus is provided whereby coal may be removed from a solid face without the use of explosives, and the dislodged coal, as it is removed from the face, may be reduced in size as necessary and conveyed from the face to a suitable point of disposal. By the particular arrangement of the mining and loading apparatus disclosed, extremely low height is attained, whereby the apparatus may readily operate in underground mines having low headroom. By the provision of the extensible boom frame structure arranged and constructed as disclosed, the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism may be sumped into the coal near the iloor level, with its advance end moving in a substantially rectilinear path, and the hydraulic cylinders for extending and retracting the boom enable rapid sumping and return movements, while the powerful and relatively high speed hydraulic means for swinging the boom upwardly enables rapid disintegration and tearing away of the coal so that the coal is dislodged from the face rapidly and in relatively large chunks, great- 1y expediting the dislodging operation. The novel chute arrangement with the pivoted upper chute section aitords extremely effective means for receiving the dislodged coal discharged from the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism and for conducting the disintegrated coal to the conveying means of the apparatus, and the associated breaker means effectively reduces the size of overlarge chunks so that the coal passes readily through the chute and along the conveyors. These and other advantages of the improved mining and loading apparatus will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modiiied and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a mining apparatus, a mobile base, a frame pivotally mounted on said base to swing in vertical planes with respect thereto and having upwardly curved guides which slope forwardly and downwardly in the lower position of said frame, an outer frame guided on said guides for movement longitudinally with respect to said pivoted frame, coal-attacking and disintegrating mechanism carried by said outer frame, motor operated means for moving said `outer frame along said curved guides when said first frame is in its lower position to effect feeding of said attacking and disintegrating mechanism into the mineral of a solid mine vein with its outer tip end moving along a substantially rectilinear path in substantial parallelism with the mine floor, and motor operated means for swinging said frame in vertical planes about its pivot to move said attacking and disintegrating mechanism arcuately to effect dislodgement and disintegration of the solid mineral between the mine floor and roof.

2. In a mining apparatus, mineral-attacking and disintegrating mechanism comprising a plurality of parallel endless mineral-attacking and disintegrating chains, means for supporting and guiding said attacking and disintegrating mechanism for movements in vertical planes and endwise longitudinally of the mechanism, said supporting and guiding means positionable to locate the outer tip ends of said chains in adjacency to the mine oor with said attacking and disintegrating mechanism forwardly and downwardly inclined, said supporting and guiding means including forwardly and downwardly sloping, upwardly curved guides for guiding the outer tip ends of said chains along a substantially rectilinear path at the level of the mine door, motor operated means for feeding said chains along said curved guides to effect sumping of the outer tip ends of said chains in such substantially rectilinear path within the mineral of a solid mine vein, and motor operated means for moving said attacking and disintegrating mechanism in vertical planes to effect upward movement of said chains toward the mine roof.

3. In a mining and loading apparatus, mineral-attacking and disintegrating mechanism for dislodging mineral from a solid mine vein comprising series of mineral-detaching devices guided for movement in orbits parallel to a common upright plane, with the upper runs traveling rearwardly at the top of said mechanism for conveying the dislodged and disintegrated mineral rearwardly to discharge at the rear portion of said mechanism, and a chute mechanism surrounding the rear portions of the orbits of said devices at said rear discharge portion of said mechanism for receiving the dislodged mineral and for directing the disintegrated mineral downwardly with respect to said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, said chute mechanism including a lower chute portion and a relatively movable upper chute portion, and parallel mineral breakers secured to said lower chute portion and projecting into adjacency to the paths of said devices in adjacency to said rearward discharge portion for reducing the size of the dislodged mineral as the latter is discharged from said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, and said movable upper chute portion having parallel slots for receiving said breakers when said upper chute portion moves downwardly relative to said lower chute portion.

4. In a mining apparatus, a support, a frame pivotally mounted on said support to swing in vertical planes with respect thereto and having parallel side portions, mineral attacking and disintegrating mechanism carried by said frame forwardly of the frame-pivot for dislodging the mineral from a solid mine vein, the frame-pivot being located rearwardly of and below the upper portion of said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, a chute mechanism carried by said frame enclosing the rearward portion of said attacking and disintegrating mechanism for receiving the dislodged mineral discharged rearwardly from said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, extensible luid jack devices pivotally mounted on said support and having forwardly extensible portions, and a transverse member connected between said side portions of said frame rearwardly of said chute mechanism and to which said extensible portions are pivotally connected,

said jack devices upon fluid supply thereto effecting swinging of said frame together with said chute mechanism about the frame pivot.

5. In a mining apparatus, a forwardly and downwardly inclined frame having curved, upwardly concaved, upper guides, a slidable frame mounted on said frame and having longitudinally spaced guides engaging said curved guides, mineral-attacking and disintegrating mechanism carried by said sliding frame, and uid cylinders connected between said frames for moving said sliding frame along said curved guides to effect movement of the outer portion of said attacking and disintegrating mechanism along a substantially rectilinear path at a relatively slow disintegrating speed to eect sumping of said outer portion of said mechanism into the mineral of a solid mine vein, said fluid cylinders also operable to retract said sliding frame along said curved guides to effect withdrawal of said mechanism from the mineral.

6. In an apparatus for detaching mineral from a solid mine vein, in combination, a portable base, a curved guideway supported by said base and swingable about a horizontal axis, said guideway being upwardly concave, means for swinging said guideway about said axis, a carriage reciprocable along said curved guideway, a mineral disintegrating apparatus supported on said carriage and projecting forwardly therefrom and having a portion thereof in advance of said guideway, means for reciprocating said carriage on said curved guideway, said guideway being so curved that when in lowered position said mineral disintegrating apparatus extends the mine bottom substantially horizontally as said carriage moves forwardly along said guideway, said disintegrating apparatus having its upper forward portion so sloped that at the end of a predetermined upward swinging movement of said guideway said portion will be substantially parallel to the mine floor.

7. In an apparatus for detaching mineral from a solid mine vein, in combination, a portable base, a curved guideway supported by said base and swingable about a horizontal axis, said guideway being upwardly concave, means for swinging said guideway about said axis, a carriage reciprocable along said guideway, a mineral disintegrating apparatus supported on said carriage and projecting forwardly therefrom and having a portion thereof in advance of said curved guideway, means for reciprocating said carriage on said curved guideway, said guideway being so curved that when in lowered position said mineral disintegrating apparatus extends the mine bottom substantially horizontally as said carriage moves forwardly along said guideway, said disintegrating apparatus having its upward forward portion so formed that by sumping and swinging movements of said disintegrating apparatus a segment of mineral from the face of the 18 mine vein having parallel upper and lower limits will be disintegrated.

8. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, mineralattacking and disintegrating mechanism for dislodging mineral from a solid mine vein comprising a series of mineral-detaching devices movable in parallel vertical orbits for disintegrating the mineral and for moving the disintegrated mineral rearwardly, a chute mechanism surrounding the rearwardly portion of said attacking and disintegrating mechanism for receiving the dislodged mineral and for directing the mineral received thereby downwardly with respect to said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, said chute mechanism including a lower chute portion and a relatively movable upper cnute portion, and parallel mineral breakers secured to said lower chute portion and projecting vertically into adjacency to the paths of said mineral-detaching devices at the rearward discharge portion of said attacking .and disintegrating mechanism for reducing the size of the dislodged mineral, said movable upper chute portion. having parallel slots for receiving said breakers when said upper chute portion moves downwardly relative to said lower chute portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 779,442 Richmond et al. Jan. l0, 1905 1,002,014 Vallentyne Aug. 29, 1911 1,508,634 Wilson Sept. 16, 1924 1,549,701 Wilson Aug. 1l, 1925 1,588,564 Wilson June 15, 1926 1,635,780 Cartlidge July 12, 1927 1,721,002 Cooper July 16, 1929 1,794,367 Davis Mar. 3, 1931 1,839,625 Whaley Jan. 5, 1932 1,867,853 Levin July 19, 1932 1,873,008 Miller Aug. 23, 1932 1,908,179 Pray May 9, 1933 1,966,131 Osgood July 10, 1934 1,979,050 Pratt Oct. 30, 1934 1,997,247 Cartlidge Apr. 9, 1935 2,010,449 Yingling Aug. 6, 1935 2,025,306 Pray Dec. 24, 1935 2,060,226 Lindgren Nov. 10, 1936 2,241,359 Cartlidge May 6, 1941 2,269,781 Osgood Ian. 13, 1942 2,281,503 Levin Apr. 28, 1942 2,287,230 Cartlidge June 23, 1942 2,334,772 Jeffrey et al. Nov. 23, 1943 2,520,040 Levin Aug. 22, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 727,439 Germany Nov. 3, 1942 

